Tasty Tuesday

Corn Dog Muffins!  These are super easy and they are Perfectly sized for the little monsters that roam this house.  Oh wait...they don't eat hot dogs.  Nope..not even if I bribe them with those really good hot dogs that have chunks of cheese all throughout and bury them in cornbread.  Never the less..Matt and I devoured them and if your kids eat hot dogs, they'll love these!

1.  Pre-heat your oven to 350 Degrees and Spray a Muffin Pan. 
2.  Grab a package of your favorite cornbread mix.  Our favorite is Marie Callender's.  It is not for those who are watching their waistline, but the flavor is well worth the extra calories. 
3.  Follow the directions on the bag to mix the cornbread.
4. Let it sit for about five minutes.  While you wait, cut up a hot dog or two.  Depends on how big of a dog you want in your muffin.  I just used one.
5.  Pour equal amounts of muffin mix into the muffin tin.
6.  Have one of your little monster's (or yourself) stick a piece of hot dog into the middle of each muffin.
7.  Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.  Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

(Her expression is wordless and I am almost wordless.  She's been with us for Eleven Years...our entire marriage.  She hasn't been feeling well and we received some sad news from our beloved Veterinarian yesterday.  I don't think you're ever fully prepared for something like this.  We'll know more today but Miss Autumn definitely needs some prayers right now.  Love you sweet girl.)

Update:  Our always awnry, runt of the litter, will love you endlessly baby girl is very sick.  We've decided to make her comfortable for as long as we can.  Even on the days they drive you crazy...there is an emptiness that fills you when you realize they won't always be here.  We've been blessed to have 11 sweet years with this monster who has always loved us unconditionally.  We'll hold tight to her these next few months.

Tasty Tuesday

Its been awhile since a Tasty Tuesday post.  I'm making it a goal to start making this post every week.  R & R can call out a McDonald's or a Sonic from 5-miles away which is sad to me.  A wake-up call that I need to spend a little more time in my own Kitchen.

I'm trying to find fun things to cook that the boys will be excited about eating.  I saw a cute idea for making "Pizza on a Stick" on the Artisan Bread in Five blog.  I was needing to whip these things out fast because I had let the afternoon get away from me. If the boys don't eat by 5:30 PM a witching hour will come into full swing ;-)  Soooo....instead of making my own pizza dough (which I know would make this recipe even better), I cheated and used pillsbury's pizza crust in the can.

Step 1: Pre-heat your oven to 400 Degrees.   Roll out the dough on your counter with a couple handfuls of flour so that it doesn't stick.  I used a rolling pin so that I could get it to spread as much as possible while keeping the rectangular shape.

Step 2:  Spread your sauce.  I used about 3/4 of a jar of store bought pizza sauce.

Step 3:  Put your toppings on.  The possibilities are endless...except if you live at Ft. Smith.  The Picky Eaters Club lives here and I just stuck with cheese.  Use lots of cheese...it is the glue that holds this recipe together.

Step 4:  Carefully roll the pizza up into a long snake.  Use a knife (or kitchen shears) and carefully cut the snake into slices.  Similar to how you make Cinnamon Rolls.  If you've never made Cinnamon Rolls, then just know that they should look like pinwheels.   Remember that you only have to bake what you think your crew will eat.  You can always stash a few of these in the freezer and bake them at a later time.

Step 5:  Place each Pinwheel on a Cookie Sheet (lined with Parchment Paper or Foil..saves on clean-up) and space them a few inches apart because they will expand.  Bake them for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. 

Step 6:  Immediately insert a lolly-pop stick into each pinwheel and allow to cool.  Your done!  The boys thought these were so fun to eat!

Pillowcase Nap-mat

Y'all know I don't like Wal-Mart, but last year we moved to the Country and besides a local grocery store (which is very nice, but doesn't sell things like pillows...an item on my list today) that's all there is.  Needless to say, Ryder and I headed out to the Mega-Chain this weekend and it lived up to my expectations. Barefoot shoppers, babies dressed in only diapers, and four shopping lanes open on a busy Sunday afternoon.  Oh and let me just say that this Wal-Mart is probably the nicest Wal-Mart I've ever been in...it could have been much worse had I been in my hometown.  Amidst it all, I found these cute pillow cases which I bought for a little project.

A new nap-mat is in order.  I found this cute idea for a Bed-in-A-Bag, but it was expensive ($145.00) AND out of stock.  My mission:  to recreate for less.  I had full intentions of using the pillows as it explained they had on the product website, but when I grabbed the pillows off the shelf I realized how hard it would be to fold the mat up compactly.  Instead, I decided to pick up a twin bed sized foam mattress pad.

I cut it into three sections, making each section the size of a standard pillow.  The website shows five pillows sewn together, but three is plenty big enough for a toddler's nap-mat.

I did real simple measuring for my cuts.  Simply lay the pillowcase on top of the foam and cut around the pillowcase.  Depending on how accurately you cut the foam, you may have to trim it slightly so that it slides into the pillowcase nice and snug.

Next...sew the ends of each pillowcase shut.  This is rocket science ;)

Now that all three pillowcases are sewn shut, simply sew them all together.  Sew "Right Sides" together.  Always sew "Right Sides" together...well...almost always. It will be easier if you pin it in a few spots before you feed it through the sewing machine.

(This is Right Sides together...guitars facing down and the front of the other pillow facing up) 

Once you've sewn all three sections together, you are done!  It should look something like this.

It folds nicely and you can hold it shut with some simple velcro. Total Cost was $21.00 and that makes me very happy!  I linked up to Tater Tots and Jello Weekend Wrap-up Party!  Go over and look at all of the great ideas! 

Tater Tots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party!!

VBS

We've been VBS'ing it all week!  While I've been crafting away with some super sweet kids and ladies, my boys have been having a blast. We're crazy, tired when we get home...but it has been an amazing week!  I stole this picture of Ryder off of my sweet friend Heather's Facebook.  He looks totally serious, but don't let him fool you.  He's our silly one for sure!  Thank you, Heather for snapping pics of all the kids this week, while 9-months pregnant!!  You are one amazing, Momma!

Phone Pics

This summer has been go, go, go.  I never have my camera, but always have my phone.  Here's what we've been up to this week per my trusty little phone.

Catching sleep whenever we can...usually this happens in the car.

Eating meals that consist of nutritious foods like Chips and Salsa.  Any true Texans two basic food groups.  This boy likes it hot, too!  The spicier the better :)

 Calcium?  We got it...Its all in a scoop of Braum's Vanilla Ice Cream!  Thank you, Grandma!

We couldn't miss free chicken at Chick-filet on Friday.  Let me introduce you to our little cow!  He didn't eat any of his chicken since it wasn't in one of the above mentioned food groups.  Actually, my crazy munchkins will eat Chicken Nuggets...but only from McDonald's.  Ewwww!   He did finish his ice cream and his cousin's.  Yes, he already knows to Save room for what is important!

We played a little Toy Story 3 in 3-D on the Wii.  That lasted a whole night.  The next morning... somehow the game mysteriously got out of the console and stepped on.  Cracked in half.  Sigh.  No wait, Big Sigh. I remember thinking my Dad was the Big Bad Wolf when he packed away our Nintendo (after my sister and I broke my Grandmother's chair while playing).  I'm slowly realizing, that we do indeed...become our parents.

This airplane came all the way from Hershey, Pennsylvania.  It was a huge hit here at Ft. Smith.  It lights up, makes sounds and even races across the floor.  Thanks to cousins who bring home cool toys from their vacations!


Next up...I'm re-vamping the Laundry Room.  I'll take some before and after shots... super excited!

Our Weekend

From our new house, we're only 2-hours and 10 minutes from Austin.  Some of our best friend's live in Austin and we love getting to spend time with them.  Our boys ride down Interstate 35 with no fuss.  It is road-trip Bliss!

Matt and his BFF, aka Chris, turn into 18-year old boys again when they are together.  It's fun to watch.  I'm thankful that they accept us and the circus that comes with the Smith's.

We really do have good boys...sometimes they just try and make people think otherwise ;-). 

Stairs are very exciting to Rustin. Once he became mobile, we were living in a house without stairs.  This makes this new-found unknown all the more alluring.  Try to keep him away from the stairs, and it simply makes him want them more.  Reminds me of a teenage girl and the boy her parents don't like.  Thankful we don't have them in this house (girls or stairs).  Only kidding...oh!  Speaking of that,  Ryder asked for a sister today.  Ahem...not in my plan book...sorry Bear!  Back to Rustin...He also loves eating and drinking...and pushing back against the kitchen table while eating and drinking.  According to the laws of physics, this causes the chair to be thrown backwards, into the wall and finally down to the floor.  A minor abrasion to his head and a ding to the chair later, we were just thankful that was the extent of the damage. 

Ryder loves riding in other people's cars, using other people's phones (always a chance they might have a new app  or car wash video that our phones don't have), sprinkler parks and playing with things your find in an 8-year old girl's room.  When told that any of the above can't be done...the feet begin to stomp, tears begin to roll and wining ensues. Oh..and wanting to take his picture also causes the same reaction. I tell myself he's not the only 3-year old that does this, but I'd be a liar if I said that I don't sometimes feel totally clueless in this parenting gig.  I've read books, taken tips from friends and family and yet I sometimes still feel like I don't know what to do.  Patience is a virtue and that's my newest stance.


Through it all we had an amazing weekend.  We were surrounded with lots of friends and fellowship. We played outside, ate lots of good food, and laughed really hard.  Most importantly, we celebrated our sweet friend's 10-year wedding anniversary.  Chris and Nima- You are an amazing couple and I adore the kindness you hold for others and the love that is witnessed between you and your beautiful daughter.  We are blessed to have you in our lives.  Congratulations!!  We can't wait to celebrate the next 10 with you! 

 Blowing Bubbles!!!

 Celebrating the 4th of July!

 Our 4th of July Picture at the Park- Take One

 Take Two after the Promise of Candy...Ryder oh Ryder...we should've promised him a trip to the Car Wash.

Swinging makes this boy crazy, happy!

 Two super sweet and beautiful girls!  This is Nima and her daughter!

And for the finale...Margarita Making is Serious Business! 

Flash Back Friday- I Do Edition

Eleven Years ago today we...Said "I DO".   Three houses, eight cars (Not Kidding...mainly mine...terrible we know), 3 dogs and 2 babies later we're still here.  Happy Anniversary.. I love you more than a Dairy Queen Blizzard!